Data Warehouse Specialist

Practicus; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy in the UK seeks a Microsoft Fabric BI Implementation Lead for a 12-month contract. The role involves providing technical oversight and guidance for migrating a legacy data warehouse to Microsoft Fabric across multiple European entities. Key qualifications include proven experience with Microsoft Fabric, strong Azure platform knowledge, and advanced SQL skills. The opportunity offers hybrid working arrangements with an emphasis on advisory functions rather than hands-on delivery. Competitive daily rate of £600–£700 outside IR35.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working with Microsoft Fabric implementations.
• Strong Azure data platform knowledge essential.
• Advanced SQL skills required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical direction for the migration to Microsoft Fabric.
• Support development of data pipelines and integration.
• Ensure data governance and quality standards.

Skills

Microsoft Fabric implementations

Azure data platform knowledge

Advanced SQL

Data modelling capability

Confident communication

Tools

Power BI

Data Factory

Data Lake

Synapse

Job description

Contractor Opportunity : Microsoft Fabric BI Implementation Lead

12-Month Contract | Outside IR35 | £600–£700 / day

Remote - UK & occasional European travel

An exciting opportunity for a senior Business Intelligence contractor to play a pivotal role in a greenfield Microsoft Fabric implementation, replacing a legacy on-premise SQL data warehouse across a multi-country European organisation.

This is a high-impact, advisory-led role for someone who understands Azure and Fabric deeply, can confidently challenge vendors, and acts as the technical translator between delivery partners, internal BI teams, and non-technical stakeholders.

🔍 The Assignment

You’ll join a lean, capable BI & IT function as a trusted technical authority, supporting the migration from an on-prem SQL environment to Microsoft Fabric. Acting as the bridge between delivery partners and internal teams, your focus will be on technical assurance, governance, integration, and long-term sustainability rather than day-to-day coding.

This programme will roll out across six European affiliates plus the UK, each operating with a degree of autonomy - making stakeholder management, clarity of communication, and project drive absolutely critical.

💡 What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide technical direction and oversight for the migration to Microsoft Fabric
• Act as the technical conscience of the programme – reviewing architecture, data models, pipelines, and design decisions
• Support development of data pipelines, Fabric workloads, and Power BI integration
• Validate ETL / ELT processes, migrated datasets, and performance optimisation approaches
• Ensure data governance, security, privacy, and quality standards are embedded from day one
• Confidently challenge vendors, call out risks, and keep delivery honest and aligned to business needs
• Translate complex Azure / Fabric concepts into clear, practical language for affiliates and senior stakeholders
• Drive knowledge transfer, documentation, and internal upskilling to reduce long‑term vendor dependency

🧠 What We’re Looking For

Non-negotiables

• Proven experience working with Microsoft Fabric implementations
• Strong Azure data platform knowledge (Fabric, Data Lake, Synapse, Data Factory)
• Advanced SQL and solid data modelling capability
• Comfortable operating in a project-led, advisory capacity rather than pure hands‑on delivery
• Confident communicator who can hold their own with vendors and senior stakeholders
• Proactive, pragmatic, and happy dealing with issues as they arise

Highly Valued

• Experience working across multi‑country or federated business models
• Exposure to regulated or data‑sensitive environments (life sciences / pharma a plus, but not essential)
• Power BI integration experience
• Strong understanding of data governance, InfoSec, and privacy considerations
• Political awareness and the ability to navigate emotionally charged or high-visibility programmes

🤝 The Environment

• Small, capable BI & IT team who value straight‑talking, challenge, and fresh perspective
• A culture that welcomes someone coming in to raise the bar, not just “keep things ticking over”
• High‑profile programme with genuine business impact and visibility

📍 Logistics

• Hybrid working – Windsor office for key meetings; otherwise remote
• Occasional travel to European affiliates (limited and planned)
• Start date : Ideally January, with a formal kick-off early February
• Duration : Contract to end on 31st December 2026
• Rate : £600–£700 / day (outside IR35)

If you’re a Fabric‑savvy BI contractor who enjoys advising the business, challenging assumptions, and keeping complex programmes honest, this is a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact.